Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee refuted all the rumors that were thrown against her after the Miss Universe 2022 competition.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, Shamcey denied that she walked out when Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi failed to reach the Top 16.
"Not true at all. I watched till the end, that's why I am really saddened and a bit angry on malicious rumors saying that we walked out after the top 16 because it is not true," she said.
Shamcey also debunked the allegations that she abandoned Celeste after the competition ended.
According to the National Director, who was also once Miss Universe Philippines in 2011, she thought she was going to meet her in the hotel where they were staying.
"But then, I found out that she did not go back to the hotel because she wanted to spend time with her family — her mom, her boyfriend, and her friends," Shamcey said.
"For me, I understand, completely understand," she added.
After Celeste failed to advance on the Top 16, speculations that her team instructed her to "know how to peak" or know the right time to give her all also spread on social media platforms.
But Shamcey clarified that she never told any women that she handle to "hold back and not to give their best every single time they come out."
"Never did I say that term "know when how to peak", I told her [to] focus on the preliminary interview," she added.
